Lyons: Just say no to all panhandlers

All forms of in-the-street begging should be banned, I've argued before. It's unsafe, and sets a bad example.

Too bad that, of late, holding a begging sign and standing in a median inches from passing cars has become flagrantly rampant in Sarasota.

You can't miss it. There are so many hand-held signs with hand-lettered hard luck claims that we could soon face a cardboard shortage. It takes a lot of signs to convince so many gullible drivers that a dollar handed out the window will go to buy baby formula, or a gallon of gas to get home. (If only it were so!)

Now more than ever, I want in-traffic begging outlawed. It's a plague. But though an expected-to-pass city ordinance should help, it probably can't stop all forms of near-traffic solicitation.

Good thing I have an easy and much better solution, if we all agree to back it.

No, really. There is one, and it will work, I promise. The simple and low-cost plan will stop all traffic panhandling in Sarasota, will be endorsed by homeless advocates and law enforcement alike, and, even when you are in other areas where traffic panhandling remains a major economic activity, it will soon make you immune to guilt or stress and other odd feelings many people experience when deciding what to do when a beggar approaches.

The plan: Firmly refuse to give anyone so much as a dime through the window of a car stopped in traffic. Don't do it, ever, no matter who is doing the hustle.

That includes firefighters with begging boots. It includes fatigue-wearing men claiming to be veterans, or alleged single moms with hungry babies. Don't discriminate. Don't guess about where the money would go. Just say no. Say no every time.

And feel glad about it, too. That is key.

How can you feel good about being uncharitable?

Simple: Don't be. But charity has to be smart to do any good. Otherwise, it usually does harm.

When you say no to traffic begging, you are doing the right thing to solve a problem, and you stopped creating one. Handing beggars money does not help them. It usually gets them drunk or high, yet again. Handing dollars to drunks and liars and other strangers working a line of cars at a traffic light enables the beggars' worst behaviors.

When everyone stops falling for it, that hustle will stop.

As is, traffic givers are teaching every potential panhandler every day that that hitting up conveniently trapped drivers stuck in traffic is rewarding and popular. The givers might as well say "Keep up the good work! This traffic begging is a great addition to the community!"

Don't waver. Even solid citizens collecting for an apparent good cause have to be taught that traffic lights are no place to do it. In addition to encouraging panhandlers to copy them, they set a bad example in another way: Worthy charities should encourage people to give carefully and be well informed about a charity and what it does and how it does it. That isn't possible in 30 seconds at a traffic light.

So say no. Feel free to explain, or not, but say "No, I don't give to anyone in the street."

It is good to want to help. But homeless people are not better off drunk. Those who are not totally committed to rent-free sloth and substance abuse as a permanent lifestyle can already get real help from programs that offer it in return for honest effort and taking steps to do better.

Organizations that offer such real help deserve the donations. Beggars seeking get-high money do not.

It is that simple. Experts may disagree on which organizations do the best work, but they agree on this: Handing money to panhandlers is a waste unless your aim is supporting begging as a career choice.

When anyone hits you up in traffic, always say no. Always. Remember, this only works if we all do it all the time. But nothing could be easier.

Who's in?

Tom Lyons can be contacted at tom.lyons@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4964.